You Started It
by Jackie Khalilieh
You Started It is a sparkling Young Adult romantic comedy that follows seventeen-year-old Jamie Taher-Foster during her high-stakes senior year in Toronto. Jamie is a "Type A" planner with a detailed list of experiences to complete before graduation, but her world is turned upside down when her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her unexpectedly. In a desperate bid to win him back, Jamie enters into a fake-dating arrangement with Axel Dahini, a carefree TikTok dancer she met after a literal bicycle collision. This book is perfect for fans of Olivia Rodrigo's Sour and readers who enjoy the "fake dating" trope with deep emotional resonance.
Beyond the romance, Jackie Khalilieh weaves a nuanced story about identity, anxiety, and the pressure of perfection. As Jamie and Axel spend time together, they bond over their shared Arab heritage and realize that life’s best moments often happen when you stop following a checklist. It is an ideal choice for readers interested in diverse contemporary stories that balance humor with heartfelt explorations of mental health and self-discovery. Fans of Becky Albertalli and Ann Liang will find themselves rooting for these endearingly flawed characters.
Highlights:
- Engaging "fake dating" trope set against a vibrant Toronto backdrop.
- Authentic representation of Arab-Canadian identity and culture.
- Relatable exploration of high school anxiety and the pressure to be perfect.
- A charming, slow-burn romance between two beautifully contrasted protagonists.